Au Revoir 2010

I have such mixed feelings about seeing this year end..It was such a fantastic year, what an incredible blessing Valentina has been for everyone, she's brought so much joy into our lives, but 2011, a new decade can only get better! So I wish everyone a new year filled with love and happiness and all the good things in this world.

xxoox, Karla and Vale (who is babbling and kicking up a storm right next to me)



p.s. for your entertainment, here is a picture of Kevin and I two new years eve's ago! Yes, that it the same headband Valentina is wearing, we save everything! I love Kevin's cheeks, and we wonder how come Vale's are so big ;) and what is up with my wannabe sultry look, It must have been after a few celebratory drinks....:) oh well, fun times.... Have a great news years everybody!

p.s.s thanks for the awesome pillow pet Morgan. Vale loves it!

Vale turned three months yesterday!

here's a picture I've been snapping on the 29th of each month. Her beanie baby is named Valentina too! great gift tita Kristin

2nd month

1st month

this flower headband was so big on her at 2 weeks, it was practically the size of her head. Now she's 3 months and it fits perfectly, It makes me a bit sad that my little baby is growing up, didn't we just bring her home...???

three day extravaganza

who knew these new parents would be doing so much partying..first was Christmas eve, at my parents house in San Diego





followed by Christmas day dinner at Joanne's house in Tustin





and last but not least was Kevin's b-day celebration.





three days of family, friends, food, fun and lots of super cool gifts for Valentina some honorable mentions include....a peter rabbit dish set, an all natural chewing giraffe, an Andre 3000 children's CD, the BOB drink holder, a bunting thingy for a cold outting, a sweet new years eve outfit, cheetah leg warmers, a federal reserve savings bond, gift certificates, and an array of adorable outfits....score Vale! so much fun but phew wee, I'm tired :)

Happy Birthday daddy!

dear daddy,
I hope you have a great 29th birthday! I'm only three months but I know I love you with all my heart.. I love our early mornings together and when you sing to me and read me book..I love that you change my diapers the second I get dirty cause you don't want me to get a rash, I love that you think I'm the best thing that's ever happened to you, and that you think I'm super cute.... feliz Cumpleanos papi, Next year I'll be eating real cake with you so watch out.

random pictures of the week

kisses for mami---okay so she was really about to headbutt me, but ehhh, the kiss scenario is so much sweeter

oh my gosh, we finally tried on these little vans we bought before she was born (when we thought she might be a boy) and just melted at the sight of our little girl all tomboyed up.

bread and cie. baby santa.bjorn. christmas eve day. Life is good. lots of love, hope all our latino readers are enjoying Christmas eve with la familia

Ya, you know what time it is... almost time for Kevin's Bday!!!

Its also a pretty big holiday season in general. But most importantly perhaps, is the fact that its my (Kevin's) birthday. Its so nice this time of year to see everyone in the spirit of this special day. They may call it something else, the "holiday spirit," or having "Christmas cheer," but let's clarify here for those of you that are still not completely aware.

December 26th marks another year of my personal growth, maturity (or lack thereof), and of course a little more facial hair. It is a fact that since 1981, my bday has been an official part of this holiday season, also commonly known by our neighbors to the North as, "Canadian Boxing Day," but I'm pretty sure they're celebrating me on this day just the same. That's just a little FYI for everyone.

So, please keep the gifts rolling. And you all have my permish to continue celebrating through today, tomorrow and even the 26th, because although it is only one person's bday, my presence is really kinda like a gift for everyone (some may say the kind of gift you never asked for and hope is accompanied by a gift receipt so you can at least get store credit or something). ;)

Oh, and here is an Xmas pics of the baby-babe:

Things I love about this picture:

1. These three
2. The christmas tree-- my mom so proudly announced she had used 5 strings of lights (the tree is no more than five feet tall)
3. That my niece and nephew happily changed into their christmas gear for the picture, no complaints as long as they got to see the picture right away. These kids could never live in the times when we had to wait for the roll to be used up, for the time to take it to Price Club, to drop it in the cart outside and wait several days for the pictures to be placed in the bins by last name. thank goodness for digital cameras.
4.Vale just couldn't be bothered
5.Vale is wearing a onesie once worn by the 6 year old boy in the picture.
6. My niece argued her way into holding vale too...
7. That they're posing for a Christmas picture---love it!

x-mas tree and eggnog

we finally got our chirstmas tree today and let me tell you all, it's a looker..with all the beautiful bright lights and hand made ornaments Kevin (and I just recently) have been exchanging with Kevin's family, I reckon we have the best lookin' tree on the block. Yeeeyhaw---even Valentina is excited!

I have nothing to say about the eggnog other than--it was delicious, purchased by Kevin at our local Henry's, it's Organic, and it makes me wish it was Christmas all year long hum-didum-sigh

at her request

Vale wanted to share her new skill... it took her two months to fully master..here it is, the amazing, incredible, astounding, and marvelous----head lift.....................yeahy Valentina! Sorry for the build up but that really is how excited we get when she goes for the head life..the crowd goes wild!!!!

Abbot Kinney

A few pictures of our Sunday afternoon in Santa Monica to cheese up your Monday... :)

before and after race

1:51

What a fun weekend, I can't believe Kevin ran a half marathon! he'd been training for over a month and was running as much as 20 miles in a morning, so 13 really wasn't that much for him but still, the pressure of running it with a good time was nerve wrecking (for me)....good thing I was only a spectator, although I could use a mile or ten off my waist ;)


Our morning started off in Los Angeles at 5:30am, Kevin packed up the family and drove us to Pomona for the Holiday half marathon which started at 8am on the dot. It was so exciting to watch people warm up and stretch, I think any time you put to test a skill or talent its going to be an exhilarating/emotional/frightening experience....when I watched my dad jog through the finish line at the La Jolla half marathon earlier this year I cried, and when this adorable couple crossed the finish line holding hands I cried, and then a breast cancer team crossed the line in a big group hug, I cried too, oh man I'm tearing up just thinking about it..anyway, I love happy endings. When Kevin finished the race on Sunday it was super exciting but not quite as dramatic for me since he had projected he would cross at 2:10 and he came in 20 minutes earlier at 1:51!!!!!


I was breast feeding Valentina when I heard Kristin and Kalani cheering, I looked up to see Kevin a few yards from the finish line in a full sprint with a huge smile on his face...We thought he heard us cheering...we later found out it was not a smile, it was a grimace from racing a high school youth to the finish line, apparently this kid had been on Kevin's tenees for several miles. How exciting! Kevin had finished the race and with a very decent time!!! imagine how I must have looked rushing over to find Kevin while still feeding Valentina under the hooter hider!!!

more 1/2 marathon pictures

showing off his well earned medal, I love how its hanging on my rear view mirror right now as if I earned it :)

Valentina's aunts made her laugh all weekend, she was lovin all their dance moves

Karla southpark walkabout-it, Kevin just be-about-it

Happy Saturday

hope everyone is having a lovely Saturday afternoon..Do you guys have plans for tonight? If you're in San Diego I highly recommend the Southparkwalkabout which is just that..a walk through Southpark. It's from 6-10pm and let me tell you its the best place to get all the free food your merry heart desires, free hotdogs, baked potatoes, s'mores, spiced wine, cupcakes, hot soup, apple cider free trolley rides..the holiday walkabout is my favorite and I do not lie when I say I've been looking forward to it since last year! I'll be sure to share pictures of our walkabout later in the week, in the meantime here are a few pics of Vale watching attentively as Kevin beatboxed away.

here's Vale showing us one of her many talents..this is called the leg-to-foot touch and she dares you to try it

QUATRE

I tried to take pictures of everyone but totally sucked at it cause I'm missing lots of family, sorry :(